Thought for Friday – 1st Week of Advent

MATTHEW 9:27-31
As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
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What strikes me today as I read this story of healing is the combination of two things:
1) The healing power of Jesus
2) The powerful faith of the blind men

Jesus often points to their faith as the reason they are healed. But of course, we cannot heal ourselves. We have to place our faith in the Lord, the One who has the power to heal and to do anything.

I just read a story about little Gianna Masciantonio in Philadelphia. She is a little girl that has been undergoing treatments basically her whole life for a brain tumor. The doctors finally told her parents to take her home and keep her comfortable; there was nothing more they could do. Her mom was determined to meet the Pope during his recent visit. The stood along the motorcade and as if God Himself pointed them out, the Pope signaled for the security to bring little Gianna to him. He kissed her head and the latest brain scan shows that the tumor is gone!

The Pope is not the healer, but he has the faith that Jesus can do anything through him. Doctors cannot explain this. Only faith can…

Do I believe that Jesus can do anything? These blind men recognized the Lord as they called Him by the Messianic title “Son of David”. One of David’s line would reign on the king’s throne forever. Of course, Jesus is the King of kings and His kingdom will last forever. The blind men trusted completely in Jesus’ healing power. Jesus met their desire by healing them.

Do I turn to the Lord when I’m most in need?
Or do I trust my own efforts, my own power, my own ability?
Have I been to that place of total dependence on the Lord?
Am I comfortable to go to Jesus for everything?

Lord, increase my faith. We are in this Advent season and we get so bogged down with the busyness of the times – the Christmas cards, the shopping, the parties, etc. Many times I have heard, “I can’t wait until Christmas is over!” Don’t let me get to that point, Lord. Help me to focus on you, the Giver of all good gifts. Help me to focus on our relationships this Advent and Christmas and not on the materialism. My heart desires you alone, Lord. And I know that with you all things are possible.